The Canadian Tenors sing "Huron Carol"

The Wondrous Gift

How silently, how silently,

The wondrous gift is given!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of his heaven.

No ear may hear his coming,

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive him, still

The dear Christ enters in.

     PHILLIPS BROOKS

     From the hymn "O Little Town of Bethlehem" (ca. 1868)

     This is Christmas: not the tinsel, not the giving and receiving, not even the carols, but the humble heart that receives anew the wondrous gift, the Christ.

     FRANK McKIBBEN

     Quoted in An American Christmas 

     (Ideals Publications Incorporated, 1996)

About A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

     "Marley was dead: to begin with." So begins Charles Dickens's Christmas story A Christmas Carol. On this day in 1843, according to the Associated Press, "A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, was first published in England." To read more about that classic Christmas story, click here.

A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens

First edition cover (1843)

'Happiness" by Jane Kenyon : Poetry Magazine

Read the poem Happiness by Jane Kenyon, and listen to a recording of a woman reading it.

Jane Kenyon (1947-1995)

American poet

A poem by Emily Dickinson about the moon

An untitled poem
by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

The Moon was but a Chin of Gold
A Night or two ago --
And now she turns Her perfect Face
Upon the World below --

Her Forehead is of Amplest Blonde --
Her Cheek -- a Beryl hewn --
Her Eye unto the Summer Dew
The likest I have known --

Her Lips of Amber never part --
But what must be the smile
Upon Her Friend she could confer
Were such Her Silver Will --

And what a privilege to be
But the remotest Star --
For Certainty She take Her Way
Beside Your Palace Door --

Her Bonnet is the Firmament --
The Universe -- Her Shoe --
The Stars -- the Trinkets at Her Belt --
Her Dimities -- of Blue --


This poem is in the public domain. It was first published in 1896.

Emily Dickinson

American poet

Poem by Emily Dickinson on elusive Peace

An untitled poem
by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

I many times thought Peace had come
When Peace was far away --
As Wrecked Men -- deem they sight the Land --
At Centre of the Sea --

And struggle slacker -- but to prove
As hopelessly as I --
How many the fictitious Shores --
Before the Harbor be --


This poem is in the public domain. It was first published in 1891.

Emily Dickinson

American poet

(born on this day in 1830

in Amherst, Massachusetts)